Snooker: Australian Open joy for Scots trio

MICHAEL GALLACHER

THREE of Scotland’s top snooker prospects, Michael Leslie, Ross Muir and Scott Donaldson, all enjoyed victories to reach the second round of the Australian Open at the Capital Venue in Gloucester.

Bonnyrigg’s Leslie started well to win the first two frames against England’s Phil Barnes which helped him take a 3-1 lead at the interval. Barnes fought back to win the next two frames to level the match but Leslie comfortably won the seventh to lead 4-3. Barnes looked like he was going to take the match to a deciding frame when he made a break of 66, however Leslie held his nerve to clear with a 55 break to win on the black for a 5-3 victory.

Musselburgh’s Muir, playing in his second match as a professional, comfortably defeated England’s James Cahill 5-1 whilst Locarno club-based player Donaldson recovered from 3-1 down to England’s Shane Castle for a 5-3 victory. Donaldson won the last frame with a total clearance of 136.

All three Scots are due to play today. Leslie plays China’s Yu Delu, Muir meets England’s Rod Lawler and Donaldson meets Jimmy Robertson.

And at the European Snooker Championships in Poland, Granton’s Craig MacGillivray lost 3-1 to Ukraine’s Alan Trigg in the Masters Event.